This year, I’m committed to trying perfumes that are a little out of my comfort zone. So, I seized the opportunity to procure a sample of Zoologist’s latest, Rabbit. It’s a gourmand scent, and I don’t usually gravitate towards this style of perfume. But the marketing material promised a gourmand-leaning scent with green characteristics. I was intrigued, and after a few wears, I’m still intrigued. Rabbit delivers. Here are my initial impressions.
Rabbit opens smelling like carrot cake covered in creamy icing and sprinkled with cinnamon spice. I immediately thought of Lost Alice from Masque Milano. Texturally, Rabbit comes across as crumbly/granular with nutty biscuit-like nuances. This aspect again recalls the Masque Milano, but I also thought of Lignum Vitae from Beaufort, minus the marine facets of that scent. It’s almost as if the carrot cake has one of those crushed cookie/digestive biscuit cheesecake-style bases.
As the scent progresses, I pick up more distinguishing, unique facets. From time to time, vegetal greens, hay-like aromatics, and wildflowers hint at the rabbit’s outdoor habitat. At a certain point, I even get a suggestion of that crunchy apple note from Cow, minus the shampoo-like impressions of that perfume. The dainty, demure nature of the floral heart, led by violet, introduces a powdery lipstick/vintage attribute to Rabbit.
Rabbit never totally loses its carrot cake associations, with some vanilla, patchouli, and almond in the base, solidifying its status as a green, earthy gourmand. Despite the predominance of seemingly heavy notes, it doesn’t get too sweet, animalic, or dense. Nor does it fall into the trap of becoming a ditzy, juvenile vanilla. Moreover, I remain interested in its quirks and complexities from start to finish. Victor Wong and Fanny Bal seemed to have pulled a rabbit out of the hat and produced a gourmand that even I could get behind. Excellent.
That’s all, folks. Have you tried Rabbit? Do you have a favorite from Zoologist?
All photos are my own.
